Former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay has ignited renewed debate over artificial turf in Brazilian football.
His remarks come amid a broader campaign led by high-profile stars, including Neymar and Thiago Silva, who have publicly opposed the growing use of synthetic pitches in Brazil’s top-tier leagues.
The players warn that artificial turf increases the risk of injuries and degrades the quality of play.
Joining the protest, the all-time top scorer of the Netherlands national team took to Twitter to express his frustrations.
“Artificial grass kills the game. Brazil when you going to listen to the players?” he posted.
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This online protest has triggered friction within Brazilian football.
Clubs such as Palmeiras, Botafogo, and Athletico Paranaense have adopted artificial surfaces to maximize stadium usage and reduce maintenance costs.
Palmeiras, in particular, has defended its choice, stating their artificial turf is FIFA-certified, undergoes annual inspections, and meets standards equivalent to those of natural grass, and they cite injury data from the past five years suggesting low risk.
Nevertheless, Depay and his fellow players remain unconvinced.
As they argued in a joint statement back in February 2025:
“The solution to a bad pitch is to make a good pitch. Soccer is natural, not artificial.”
Artificial grass kills the game.
Brazil when you going to listen to the players?— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) August 28, 2025
FKA/EB
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